Pew-guard



-' NiTED STATES PATENT FFICE.

PEW-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,236, dated May 17, 1898.

Application filed November 17, 1897.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, EMILY T. KERVIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pew-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved lock and strap for church-pews.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of pew lockand strap that maybe used to guard the entrance of pews.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1' shows an elevation of two pews in section and the lock and strap in position. Fig. 2 shows the lock with the rear plate removed and exposing to view the internal construction. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the strap with thelocking-prong in position ready to enter the lock-case. Fig. 4 is a view of the lock and strap with the locking-prong of the strap securedin the lock. Fig. 5 is a front View of the lock. Fig. 6 is a side view of the bell-crank-shaped hook-catch. Fig. 7 shows three views of the locking-prong. Fig. 8 shows two views of the key.

The look A is circular and is intended to be secured to the end. standard 13 of the pews on the inner side. As the lock-case has no angles or corners, there is no liability of a persons apparel or clothing catching on it. The case has a circular box-rim c and two flat sides d d. The rear side d is a separate plate that sets within the circular rim. The two flat sides each have a central hole 6 and boltholes f, and the circular rim has an opening 9. Within the case is a bell-crank-shaped hookcatch, which has at its center and at each side a trunnion h, that fits and turns in the central hole e in the sides of the case. The exposed ends of the trunnions have a square hole 11 for the reception of the end 11 of a key J. One arm of the bell-crank has a hook-catch 7c, provided with a beveled outer side Z, which normally is in front of the opening g in the circular rim. The other arm has a pin 1% projecting on the side which confronts the said hook-catch, and a spiral spring at has one end seated over this pin and the other end seated against a lug 0, fixed on the inside of Serial No. 658,731. (No model.)

the case. This spring is under compression and keeps the beveled side Z of the hook-catch immediately in front of the opening 9 and the point of the hook-catoh in contact with the lug 0, in which position the locking-prong p on the strap, when entering the said opening, may bear on the said beveled side and thereby partly turn the bell-crank to allow the prong p to fully enter and engage the hook-catch 7c.

The hook-catch is pivoted byits trunnions h,which are exposed through the sides of the case, and the key J is applied directly to a hole z'in the trunnion. The case itself has no keyhole, and therefore nothing can be in sorted into the lock-case that will interfere with the action of the working parts.

, The prong p has a hole 2), into which the hook-catch it enters and locks the strap Q when the latter is stretched across between the two pews. The prong-piece has two jaws 1, which when first made are spread apart V-shaped, as shown in Fig. 7. One jaw has two teeth 3, one near each corner, and the other jaw has one tooth s in the center. The endt of the strap is entered or placed between the two jaws while they are spread apart and then the jaws are pressed or hammered together, so as to force their teeth 8 3' into the strap end If, and thereby thelocking-prong is secured to the strap, no rivets being employed. The other end of the strap Q, is secured in like manner to a joint-piece it, which is jointed to an eye 2; on a plate 1;, which latter is secured by screws to the next pew in front. When the strap is not in use to lock the pew entrance, it will hang pendent from the eye '0, the locking-prong 19 being downward.

' To look the strap, no key is required. To unlock it, the end i" of the key J must be inserted in the square hole 71 in the trunnion and then turned.

The lock-case has been especially constructed to adapt it for use on any church-pew-' those whose entrance are at the right-hand of an aisle as well as those whose entrance are at the left-hand--without changing the relative positions of the keyhole and the side opening 9 for the entrance of the lockingprong 19. It has also been a desideratum to make a pew-guard that will be entirely independent of the guard for adjoining pews.

Having thus described myinvention,what

I claim is A look for holding a pew-guard strap, comprising a look-case having a central pivot- 5 hole, e, in each of two opposite sides and an opening, g, in its rim; a hell-crank-shaped lever having trunnions that fit in said pivotholes, said trunnions being exposed exteriorly and having a keyhole, and one arm of 10 said lever having a hook-catch, 70; a spring pressing on the other arm of said bell-crank lever; and a strap having at one end a lockingprong to engage with said hook-catch, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

I EMILY T. KERVIGK. Witnesses:

CHAS. B. MANN, CHAPIN A. FERGUSON. 

